Torque converter with lock-up clutch spring

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a torque transmitting device ( 1 ) including a torque input element ( 5 ). coupled to a crankshaft of an engine, and a torque output element ( 8 ) intended to be coupled to a transmission input shaft. The torque transmitting device also includes a damper ( 13, 17 ) and a clutch ( 20, 18 ) mounted between the torque input element ( 5 ) and the torque output element ( 8 ). The clutch includes a piston ( 20 ) axially movable from an engaged position in which the torque input element ( 5 ) is rotationally coupled to the torque output element ( 8 ) through the damper ( 13, 17 ), and a disengaged position. The clutch further includes an assistance mechanism ( 24 ) able to exert an axial force tending to return the clutch piston ( 20 ) to the engaged position thereof.

The present invention relates to a torque transmitting device or a motor vehicle, such as a torque converter.

The patent FR 2 668 234, in the name of the Applicant, discloses a torque converter comprising an impeller wheel integral with a cover intended to be coupled to an engine crankshaft, with the impeller wheel being able to hydrokinetically drive the turbine wheel through the reactor.

The torque converter also comprises clutch means comprising a piston axially movable between an engaged position in which it is friction-coupled to the cover and a disengaged position in which it is uncoupled from the cover. The piston is connected to the hub through damping means. Said damping means comprise elastic springs acting circumferentially. The hub is intended to be coupled to a transmission input shaft. Besides, the turbine wheel is rotationally coupled to the hub.

Pressure chambers are provided on either side of the piston so that the latter is moved according to the pressure difference between said chambers.

In the disengaged position of the piston, the torque generated by the crankshaft is transmitted to the cover and to the impeller wheel, which hydrokinetically drives the turbine wheel through the reactor. The torque is then transmitted to the hub and to the transmission input shaft. The above-mentioned elastic damping means are not active in such an operating mode.

On the contrary, in the engaged position of the piston, the torque generated by the crankshaft is transmitted to the cover, and then to the piston friction-coupled to said cover. The torque is then transmitted to the hub and to the transmission input shaft, through the damping means.

Depending on the specifications, it may be necessary to have a normally closed torque converter, i.e. which, when in the engaged position, is in a so-called rest position in which the piston is not controlled. Reducing the duration of the clutch engaging phase, i.e. the time required to change from a disengaged position to an engaged position, may also be necessary. Increasing the torque which can be transmitted through the clutch may also be required.

The invention more particularly aims at providing a simple, efficient and economical solution to such issues.

For this purpose, it provides a torque transmitting device comprising a torque input element intended to be coupled to a crankshaft of an engine, a torque output element intended to be coupled to a transmission input shaft, damping means mounted between the torque input element and the torque output element, with the torque output element being able to pivot relative to the torque input element about an shaft, against a resisting torque exerted by the damping means, clutch means mounted between the torque input element and the torque output element, with the clutch means comprising a piston axially movable from an engaged position in which the torque input element is rotationally coupled to the torque output element through the damping means, and a disengaged position, characterised in that it comprises assistance means able to exert an axial stress tending to return the piston to the engaged position thereof.

The assistance means make it possible to return the piston to the engaged position, so that the device is of the normally closed type. Besides, the assistance means increase the axial stress exerted onto the piston, so that the torque which can be transmitted through the clutch means is more important than in the case of the prior art. The clutch engaging time is also reduced.

Besides, pressures on either side of the piston can be balanced, so that the latter is not significantly deformed. The thickness, mass and overall dimensions of the piston can thus be reduced.

The assistance means may be elastic means able to exert an elastic return stress.

In this case, the assistance means may consist of at least one washer elastically deformable in the axial direction.

The washer may be a Belleville type washer, for instance.

The damping means comprise an elastic leaf, rotationally connected with the torque output element or respectively the torque input element, with the elastic leaf being able to be elastically and radially held to rest on a supporting member resting on the torque input element or respectively the torque output element, with the elastic leaf being able to bend upon rotation of the torque input element relative to the torque output element.

Such damping means enable a progressive damping, which results in a reduction in the vibrations generated in operation and a good quality of filtration.

The piston may be rotationally coupled to the torque output element.

The device may comprise a supporting flange able to be rotationally friction-coupled to the piston in the engaged position and able to be rotationally uncoupled relative to the piston in the disengaged position, with the elastic leaf being fixed to the supporting flange and the supporting member resting on the torque input element, or vice versa.

In this case, the piston and/or the supporting flange may comprise friction lining able to cooperate with the flange, respectively the piston, so as to provide a rotational friction coupling.

The friction lining may be positioned at the radially external periphery of the piston and/or the supporting flange, which makes it possible to further reduce the risk for the piston to be deformed.

The supporting member may comprise a rolling body so mounted as to pivot about a fixed shaft or formed by the torque input element.

The device may also comprise a turbine wheel and an impeller wheel rotationally coupled with the torque input element and able to hydrokinetically drive the turbine wheel.

The device thus forms a hydrokinetic torque coupling device.

The device may further comprise a reactor, with the impeller wheel being able to hydrokinetically drive the turbine wheel through the reactor.

It should be noted that a hydrokinetic torque coupling device may be a torque converter when the hydrokinetic torque coupling means comprise an impeller wheel, a turbine wheel and a reactor, or may be a coupler when the hydrokinetic torque coupling means have no reactor.

The torque output element may comprise a central hub.

The central hub may comprise inner ribs able to cooperate with ribs on the transmission input shaft so as to provide a rotational coupling of said central hub with the transmission input shaft.

The torque input element may comprise a cover at least partly accommodating the damping means and the clutch means.

The invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics:

-   -   the rolling body is a roller, for instance a cylindrical one,     -   the rolling body is mounted on the shaft through a bearing, such         as for instance a ball bearing, or a needle bearing,     -   the shaft is fixed to the torque input element by welding for         instance, more particularly by friction welding,     -   the device comprises a supporting cage comprising two spaced         partitions, with the shaft comprising a first and a second axial         ends engaged into openings having a shape matching that of the         cage partitions, with the shaft further comprising an axially         median part whereon the leaf can bear, positioned between the         two cage partitions. The shaft is thus not cantilevered, and the         stresses can be taken up at each end of the shaft,     -   The cage is fixed to the torque input element or to the torque         output element, respectively, more particularly the cover,     -   The cage may consist, at least partly, of the torque input         element or to the torque output element, respectively,

the leaves are fixed to the supporting flange by riveting or welding,

the supporting flange comprises centring means on the torque input element,

-   -   the supporting flange comprises an axial part, the radially         internal periphery of which is provided with a cylindrical rim         centred about a cylindrical centring part, consisting, for         instance, of a pin of the torque input element, specifically a         pin fixed to the cover,     -   the supporting flange comprises centring means on the torque         output element,     -   the piston comprises a radial part, the radially internal         periphery of which is provided with a cylindrical rim centred         about a cylindrical centring part of the torque output element,         consisting, for instance, of a cylindrical part of the central         hub,     -   the cover comprises a first portion connected to the impeller         wheel and a second portion carrying the supporting member, with         the first and second portions being fixed together, for instance         by welding,     -   the impeller wheel, the turbine wheel and the reactor are at         least partly accommodated in the cover,     -   the elastic leaf is so designed that, in the engaged position,         in a relative angular position between the torque input element         and the torque output element which is different from a position         at rest, the supporting member exerts a bending stress onto the         elastic leaf which produces an opposed reaction force from the         elastic leaf onto the supporting member, with such reaction         force having a circumferential component which tends to return         the torque input element and the torque output element to said         relative rest position,     -   the elastic leaf is so designed that, in the engaged position,         in a relative angular position between the torque input element         and the torque output element which is different from a position         at rest, the supporting member exerts a bending stress onto the         elastic leaf which produces an opposed reaction force from the         elastic leaf onto the supporting member, with such reaction         force having a radial component which tends to hold the elastic         leaf in contact with the supporting member,     -   in the engaged position, the angular displacement of the torque         input element relative to the torque output element may be         greater than 20° and preferably greater than 40°,     -   the elastic leaf comprises a fixing portion and an elastic         portion comprising a radially internal strand, a radially         external stand and a bowed or curved portion connecting the         internal strand and the external strand,     -   the damping means comprise at least two elastic leaves, with         each leaf being associated with and elastically held to rest on         a supporting member, with each elastic leaf being able to bend         upon rotation of the torque input element relative to the torque         output element, in the engaged position.

Other special characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the description made as a strictly non-limiting example in relation to the appended figures, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are axially sectional views of a torque converter according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an axially sectional view of a portion of a torque converter according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is sectional view of a portion of said torque convert

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of said torque converter;

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a torque converter 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. It makes it possible to transmit a torque from the output shaft of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, such as for instance a crankshaft, to a transmission input shaft. The axis of the torque converter 1 is identified by reference X.

In the following, the terms <<axial>> and <<radial>> are defined relative to the X axis.

The torque converter 1 conventionally comprises an impeller bladed wheel 2, able to hydrokinetically drive a turbine bladed wheel 3 through a reactor 4.

The impeller wheel 2 is fixed to a cover 5 consisting of two bell-shaped parts 5 a, 5 b assembled together by welding and defining an internal volume 6 accommodating the impeller wheel 2, the turbine wheel 3 and the reactor 4. Said cove also more generally referred to as cover 5, comprises fastening means 7 enabling a rotational coupling of said cover 5 to the crankshaft.

The torque converter 1 further comprises a central hub 8 having an X axis the radially internal periphery of which comprises ribs 9, and accommodated in the internal volume 6 of the cover 5. The central hub 8 comprises an annular rim 10 which radially extends outwards and a cylindrical portion positioned in front of the rim 10, i.e. on the right in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The turbine wheel 3 is fastened to the annular rim 10 of the central hub 8, for instance by rivets or by welding. The turbine wheel 3 also comprises coupling fingers or lugs 12 which axially extend frontwards, at an angle or not relative to the X axis.

The turbine wheel 3, the coupling lugs 12 and the central hub 8 may consist of one or more different parts without the operation of the torque converter being affected since such parts are fixed together.

Two supporting members or rolling bodies 13 shaped as rollers or cylindrical rollers, are mounted on the cover 5 and accommodated in the internal volume 6.

The rolling bodies 13 are so positioned as to be diametrally opposed (FIG. 3). More specifically, the rolling bodies 13 are mounted about shafts 14 which axially extend, with said shafts 14 being fixed to a front radial portion 15 of the portion 5 b of the cover 5, for instance by friction welding. Other fastening means may be considered, of course, such as screws, or rivets, for instance, or by press-fitting into an opening of the cover 5. The rolling bodies 13 are mounted on the shafts 14 through rolling bearings 16, such as needle bearings; for instance.

The torque converter 1 further comprises two elastic leaves 17. As can be best seen in FIG. 3, each elastic blade 17 comprises a fixing portion 17 a fixed to an annular supporting flange 18 by rivets 19, for instance here three in number for each blade 17, and an elastic portion comprising one radially internal strand 17 b, one radially external strand 17 c and a curved or bowed portion 17 d connecting the internal strand 17 b and the external strand 17 c. The bowed or curved portion 28 has an angle of approximately 180°. In other words, the elastically deformable portion of the elastic leaf 17 comprises two regions radially shifted with respect to one another and separated by a radial space. Such a leaf 17 is known from document FR 3 008 152, in the name of the Applicant, for instance.

The external strand 17 c develops on the circumference at an angle ranging from 120° to 180°. The radially external strand 17 c comprises a radially external surface 17 e which forms a raceway supported by the corresponding rolling body 13, with said rolling body 13 being positioned radially outside the external strand 17 c of the elastic blade 17. The raceway 17 e has a globally convex shape. The raceway 17 e may directly consist of a zone of the external strand 17 c or of a part which is added onto said external strand 17 c.

The torque transmitted between each elastic leaf 17 and the matching rolling body 13 can be broken down into radial stresses and peripheral stresses. Radial stresses make it possible for the matching blade 17 to bend and peripheral stresses make it possible for the matching rolling body 13 to move on the raceway 17 e of the blade 17 and to transmit the torque.

The flange 18 is accommodated in the inner space 6 of the cover 5 and comprises a portion which radially extends and comprises a radially external area 18 a, a radially median area 18 b and a radially internal area 18 c, axially shifted with respect to one another and connected by annular arched areas 18 d, so as to give said portion some axial elasticity. The radially internal periphery of the radial portion of the flange 18 comprises a cylindrical rim 18 e which extends frontwards, mounted about a rear cylindrical portion of a centring pin 19 having an X axis, fixed on the cover 5. The pin 19 and the cover 5 may of course be a single part.

The torque converter 1 further comprises clutch means adapted to rotationally couple the flange 18 and the hub 8, in an engaged position, and adapted to release the hub 8 of the flange 18, in a disengaged position.

The clutch means comprise an annular piston 20 which extends radially and is accommodated in the inner space 6 of the cover 5, the radially external periphery of which comprises a resting area 21 equipped with clutch lining and adapted to rest on the radially external area 18 a of the flange 18, in an engaged position, so as to provide a rotational coupling of the flange 18 and the piston 20. In this exemplary FIG. 1, the annular piston 20 is disposed between the turbine wheel 3 and the flange 18.

The radially internal periphery of the piston 20 is provided with a cylindrical rim 22 extending forwards and mounted about the cylindrical portion 11 of the central hub 8 so that the piston 20 can axially slide along said cylindrical portion 11.

The radially external periphery of the piston 20 comprises coupling fingers or lugs 23 which axially extend backwards, and which are inserted into, or cooperate with the coupling fingers or lugs 12 of the turbine wheel 3 so as to provide a rotational coupling between the turbine wheel 3 and the piston 20, while enabling an axial displacement of the piston 20 relative to the turbine wheel 3.

The axial motion of the piston 20 is controlled by pressure chambers positioned on either side of the piston 20 between a disengaged position in which it spaced from the flange 18 and an engaged position in which it is held to rest on the flange 18.

In order to facilitate the motion of the piston 20 toward the disengaged position thereof, an assistance washer 24 elastically deformable in the axial direction, for instance a Belleville type washer, is mounted between the rim 10 of the hub 8 and the radial portion of the piston 20, about the cylindrical portion 11 of the hub 8. The washer 24 more particularly has a conical shape, with the radially internal periphery of the washer 24 resting on the rim 10, and with the radially external periphery of the washer 24 resting on the piston 20.

Such assistance washer 24 exerts a stress axially oriented frontwards on the piston 20, so that it is returned to its engaged position in which it rests on the flange 18. Thus, in the rest position, i.e. when the pressure in the pressure chambers positioned on either side of the piston 20 is globally balanced, the piston 20 returns to its engaged position. Such clutch means are thus of the normally closed type.

The assistance washer 24 also makes it possible to reduce the clutch engaging time, since the stress it exerts makes it possible to increase the piston 20 frontward motion speed, in the case of a clutch control. The stress exerted by the assistance washer 24 eventually makes it possible to increase the torque which can be transmitted through the clutch means.

The stress exerted by the assistance washer 24 ranges from 1000 to 8000 N, for instance, which makes it possible to reduce the clutch engaging time, between 15% to 65%, from preference by approximately 40% and to increase the torque which can be transmitted through the clutch means between 5% to 70%, from preference by approximately 35%, as compared with the prior art.

Such clutch means make it possible to transmit a torque from the crankshaft to the transmission input shaft, in a determined operation phase, without any action from the hydrokinetic coupling means consisting of the impeller heel 2, the turbine wheel 3 and the reactor 4.

In operation, the torque from the crankshaft is transmitted to the cover 5 through the fixing means 7. In the disengaged position of the piston 20, the torque goes through the hydrokinetic coupling means, i.e. the impeller wheel 2 and then the turbine wheel 3 fixed to the hub 8. The torque is thus transmitted to the transmission input shaft coupled to the hub 8 through the internal ribs 9 of the hub 8.

In the engaged position of the piston 20, the torque from the cover 5 is transmitted to the flange 18 through the damping means consisting, of the elastic leaves 17 and the supporting members 13. The torque is thus transmitted to the hub 8 through the piston 20 and then to the transmission input shaft coupled to the hub 8 through the internal ribs 9 of said hub 8.

In the engaged position of the piston 20, when the torque transmitted from the cover 5 to the hub 8 varies, the radial stresses exerted between each elastic leaf 17 and the matching rolling body 13 vary and the bending of the elastic leaf 17 is modified. The modification in the bending of the leaf 17 comes with a displacement of the rolling body 13 along the matching raceway 17 e due to peripheral stresses.

The raceways 17 e have profiles so arranged that, when the transmitted torque increases, the rolling bodies 13 each exert a bending stress onto the matching elastic blade 17, which causes the free distal end of the elastic blade 17 to move towards the X axis and a relative rotation between the cover 5 and the hub 8 such that the later move away from their relative rest positions. Rest position means the relative position of the cover 5 relative to the hub 8, wherein no torque is transmitted between the latter.

The profiles of the raceways 17 e are thus such that the rolling bodies 13 exert bending stresses having radial components and circumferential components onto the elastic leaves 17.

The elastic leaves 17 exert, onto the rolling bodies 13, a back moving force having a circumferential component which tends to rotate the rolling bodies 13 in a reverse direction of rotation and thus to move back the turbine wheel 3 and the hub 8 towards their relative rest positions, and a radial component directed outwards which tends to maintain the raceways 17 e supported by the matching rolling body 13.

When the cover 5 and the hub 8 are in their rest positions, the elastic leaves 17 are preferably radially pre-stressed toward the X axis so as to exert a reaction force directed radially outwards, so as to maintain the blades 17 supported by the matching rolling bodies 13.

The profiles of the raceways 17 e may equally be so arranged that the characteristic transmission curve of the torque according to the angular displacement is symmetrical or not relative to the rest position. According to an advantageous embodiment, the angular displacement may be more important in a so-called direct direction of rotation than in an opposite, so-called reverse direction of rotation.

The angular displacement of the cover 5 relative to the hub 8 may be greater than 20° preferably greater than 40°, in the engaged position.

The elastic leaves 17 are regularly distributed about the X axis and are symmetrical relative to the X axis so as to ensure the balance of the torque converter 1.

The torque converter 1 may also comprise friction means 25 so arranged as to exert a resisting torque between the cover 5 and the hub 8 during the relative displacement thereof so as to dissipate the energy stored in the elastic leaves 17. The friction means consist, for instance, of a friction ring 25 fixed to the cover 5 or to the flange 18 respectively, and able to rest on and rub the flange 18, or the cover 5 respectively.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a part of a torque converter 1 according to a third embodiment of the invention, which is different from the ones disclosed above while referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 in that the torque input element comprises a supporting cage comprising two spaced apart partitions 26, 27 connected together by axially extending spacers 28.

The spacers 28 may be provided as a single piece with one of the partitions 26, 27, as in the case shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The shaft 14 comprises a first and a second axial end 14 a engaged into openings having a matching shape in the partitions 26, 27, with the shaft 14 further comprising an axially median portion 14 b used for supporting the leaf 17 and axially located between the two partitions 26, 27. The shaft 14 is thus not cantilevered, and the stresses can be taken up at each end 14 a of the shaft 14.

The partitions 26, 27 are fixed together and to the cover 5 by rivets 29.

The 26, 27, 28 may of course consist, at least partially, of the cover.

The operation of such a torque converter 1 is similar to the one disclosed above while referring to FIGS. 1 to 3. 

1. A torque transmitting device (1) comprising a torque input element (5) intended to be coupled to a crankshaft of an engine, a torque output element (8) intended to be coupled to a transmission input shaft, damping means (13, 17) mounted between the torque input element (5) and the torque output element (8), with the torque output element (8) being able to pivot relative to the torque input element (5) about an axis (X), against a resisting torque exerted by the damping means (13, 17), clutch means (20, 18) mounted between the torque input element (5) and the torque output element (8), with the clutch means comprising a piston (20) axially movable from an engaged position in which the torque input element (5) is rotationally coupled to the torque output element (8) through the damping means (13, 17), and a disengaged position, comprising assistance means (24) able to exert an axial force tending to return the piston (20) to the engaged position thereof; wherein, the damping means comprises an elastic leaf (17), rotationally connected with the torque output element (8) or, respectively, the torque input element (5), with the elastic leaf (17) being able to be elastically and radially held to rest on a supporting member (13) connected to the torque input element (5) or, respectively, the torque output element (8), with the elastic leaf (17) being able to bend upon rotation of the torque input element (5) relative to the torque output element (8); and, said damping means further comprises a supporting flange (18) rotationally friction-coupled to the piston (20) when in the engaged position and rotationally uncoupled relative to the piston (20) when in the disengaged position, with the elastic leaf (17) being fixed to the supporting flange (18) and the supporting member (13) connected to the torque input element (5).
 2. A torque transmitting device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the assistance means (24) are elastic means able to exert an elastic return force.
 3. A torque transmitting device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the assistance means comprise at least one washer (24) elastically deformable in the axial (X) direction.
 4. (canceled)
 5. A torque transmitting device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the piston (20) is rotationally coupled to the torque output element (8).
 6. (canceled)
 7. A torque transmitting device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the piston (20) and/or the supporting flange (18) comprise friction lining able to cooperate with the flange (18), respectively the piston (20), so as to provide a rotational friction coupling.
 8. A torque transmitting device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the supporting member comprises a rolling body (13) so mounted as to pivot about a fixed shaft (14) formed onto the torque input element (5).
 9. A torque transmitting device (1) according to claim 1, comprising a turbine wheel (3) and an impeller wheel (2) rotationally coupled with the torque input element (5) and able to hydrokinetically drive the turbine wheel (3).
 10. A torque transmitting device (1) according to claim 9, comprising a reactor (4), with the impeller wheel (2) being able to hydrokinetically drive the turbine wheel (3) through the reactor (4).
 11. A torque transmitting device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the torque output element comprises a central hub (8).
 12. A torque transmitting device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the torque input element comprises a cover (5) at least partly accommodating the damping means (13, 17) and the clutch means (20, 18).
 13. (canceled)
 14. (canceled)
 15. (canceled) 